Improvement in neck-yokes



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JEPTHA OUMMINS, OF PERRY, MICHIGAN.

IMPROVEMENT IN NECK-YOKES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 50,801, dated November 7, 1865.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JEPTHA CUMMINs, of Perry, in the county of Shiawassee and State of Michigan, have invented a new and Improved Neck-Yoke; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact de scription thereof, which will enable those skilled in the artt-o make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a side view of my invention; Fig. 2, a plan or top view of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corre sponding parts.

The object of this invention is twofold. First, to have the yoke adjustable in such a manner that it may be virtually lengthened or shortened, so as to have ashort and long yoke in one; and, second, to have it so arranged that it will equalize the draft, or rather subject each horse to an equal share of thelabor of holding back the vehicle and its load in descending an eminence.

A represents the neck-yoke, which may be constructed of wood or other material, and of the usual length, and provided with the ordinary ring, B, whichis suspened centrally from it to receive the tongue or draft-pole. The above parts may be constructed in the usual manner, and therefore do not require aininute description.

G O are rings, whick are fitted on the neckyoke and allowed to slide freely thereon, the rings passing through guides 1) D at the under side of the neck-yoke, as shown clearly in Fig. 1, said guides determining the length of the movement of the rings 0 C. These rings (1 G are connected by rods E E to the ends of a lever, F, which is connected by a central fulcrum-bolt, G, to the center of the neck-yoke. By this arrangement it will be seen that when one ring (3 is moved the other will be moved in a corresponding manner, both rings moving simultaneously toward and from each other.

The breast-straps are connected to rings H,'

which are attached to the rings 0. In order to obtain a short neck-yoke the rings 0 are moved toward the center of the yoke, the form er bearing against the inner sides of the guides This position of the rings is shown in red in Fig. 2. The yoke is lengthened by ad justing the rings 0 outward, so that they will bear against the outer ends of the guides D D. This position is shown in black in Fig. 2.

In descending an eminence one horse cannot draw a ring outward to obtain a greaterleverage power on the yoke than the other, in consequence of the other ring being moved outward in a corresponding degree; hence the holding back of the vehicle and load will devolve equally on both horses.

The device will not augment materially the cost of the construction of the yoke.

Having thus described my in vention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent The combination of the pivoted lever F, rods E E, and sliding rings O,arrangcd in the manner and for the purpose described.

JEPTHA O UMMIN S.

Witnesses:

A. A. HARPER, R. H. TITUS. 

